21:11 Governor Reports: One Person Killed Due to Ukrainian Air Attacks on Belgorod
Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov has reported aerial assaults (16:30) in the southern Russian region. He claims that 15 targets have been struck down. In the Dubovoje village, there was a reported fatality. Residences and commercial establishments were allegedly damaged by artillery impacts. Four individuals were transported to a nearby hospital with critical injuries. An apartment building was also said to have burned down.
20:43: Kharkiv Death Toll Increases to Four following Russian Assault
In a Russian assault on a hardware store in Kharkiv (entries 19:44, 19:04, 18:42, and 16:50), at least four individuals lost their lives, according to Ukrainian authorities. The Kharkiv mayor, Igor Terekhov, shared on Telegram that the casualty count rose to four while the number of injuries rose to 40. The Kharkiv region's governor, Oleg Synegubov, also announced on Telegram that the number of injured rose to 38.
20:13: Heavy Combat for Vovchansk Seen by Ukrainian Soldiers
Ukrainian soldiers have witnessed daily artillery assaults on the city of Vovchansk. The city's schools, churches, and administrative structures lay in ruins, and many residents have fled. There's no indication of the battle ending soon as it holds key strategic importance for Russia.
19:44: Additional Attacks in Kharkiv Injure at Least 11
In another Kharkiv assault, only a few hours following an attack on a hardware store that killed at least two individuals and injured 33, there has been another assault hitting the city center. Igor Terekhov, the city's mayor, provided this information via his Telegram channel. The assault targeted a populated area, with at least 11 people being injured. Among them was a 13-year-old boy, who was taken to a hospital, as reported by Oleg Synegubov, the governor of the Kharkiv region, on Telegram. Details regarding the extent of the damage and the number of injured are still being determined, according to Terekhov. The first assault hit a hardware store in the city.
19:04: Smoke Cloud Emerge from Russian Bombing of Kharkiv Home Depot
Russia is once again targeting the hotly contested Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, dropping a guided bomb on a local hardware store. A massive smoke cloud arises. Around 200 individuals were in the store when the attack occurred. A handful of casualties have been confirmed.
18:42: Zelensky Condemns Russian Bombing of Home Depot as Unhinged
The Russian military's attack on a Home Depot in the eastern city of Kharkiv is considered by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as "another example of Russian insanity." "Only deranged minds like Putin's can perpetrate such horrific acts of killing and terrorizing citizens," Zelensky declared in his daily video address. At least two individuals were killed, and another 33 injured in the strike. Firefighters continue attempting to balance the destruction. The regional government's account indicated that around 200 people were inside the "Epizentr" Home Depot at the attack's time.
18:06: Ukrainian Forces Take Down Russian Su-25 Fighter Jet in Donetsk
Soldiers from the 110th Brigade of the Ukrainian Army downed a Russian Su-25 fighter plane in the Donetsk region, according to "Ukrainian Pravda" based on a Telegram post on the OSUV "Khortytsia" channel.
17:35: Ukrainian Frontline Soldiers Display Supply of New Ammunition
The first ammunition deliveries from the United States have appeared in Ukraine. A soldier in Luhansk reports to have received a full load for the first time in two years. The United States is preparing another aid package for the fight for Kharkiv, while Germany will provide an additional air defense system.
16:50: Russia Kills Two Victims, Hurts at Least 33, Strikes Home Depot in Kharkiv
At least two people were killed due to a Russian attack on Kharkiv, a city in northeastern Ukraine on Saturday, as per the official reports. "There are genuinely two [deceased]," said Kharkiv mayor Igor Terekhov via Telegram. At least 33 people sustained injuries, as per Oleg Synegubov, the head of the regional military administration, who also shared on Telegram. According to initial information, a Home Depot in a residential area was hit. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported on Telegram that "perhaps more than 200" people could have been in the "Epizentr" Home Depot during the attack. All first responders are actively assisting the population and putting out fires.
Two Ukrainian drones attacked the city of Shebekino in Russia this morning, as reported by Governor of Belgorod region Vyacheslav Gladkov on Telegram. Apparently, no civilians were harmed in the incident. However, the roof of an industrial building was damaged due to the fall of a drone.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Iranian counterpart Ali Bagheri-Kani confirmed the strategic partnership between Russia and Iran. Despite the unfortunate incident that led to the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, the two countries' leaders' vision for a strong strategic partnership remains intact. This was revealed after a phone call between these ministers.
Italian Central Bank Governor Fabio Panetta is urging Italian banks to cut ties with Russia. He mentioned that the G7 finance meeting in Stresa was a discussion about the reputational damage that European banks are suffering due to their connections to Russia. UniCredit has the most significant business connections to Russia among Italian banks.
According to a news report by Interfax, Russian troops have taken control of the village of Archangelske in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, and advanced in Kharkiv's northeastern region. Moreover, two Ukrainian counterattacks were repelled by the Russian Defense Ministry. TheUkrainian government hasn't made any statement on this matter yet.
Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov threatened retaliation if G7 countries planned to use frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine. He implied that Russia could respond with mirror measures if Western countries use these assets unlawfully.
The G7 countries plan to continue their financial support for Ukraine. German Finance Minister Christian Lindner said at the end of the G7 meeting in Stresa on Saturday that they have secured financing for this year and want to explore new avenues for support in 2025.
Paris plans to name a street after Aleksey Navalny, a prominent Kremlin critic. A senator revealed that the city council had unanimously decided on this renaming, and the future Navalny Street would be located in the posh 16th administrative district of Paris, close to the Russian embassy.
A Ukrainian investigation has been launched against its 125th Brigade, which was stationed in the Kharkiv region to defend it from an attack in early May. The preliminary investigation found that this brigade had not organized the defense of the positions properly and had a negligent attitude towards military service. A few commanders and commanders are expected to be investigated in detail, although no potential punishment has been mentioned so far.
In an interview, Lindner expressed concern over the long-term financial support for Ukraine that the G7 would discuss. He stated that the risks for taxpayers should be minimized or avoided completely.
Dmitri Rogozin, a former Russian ambassador to NATO and now a senator in the Russian Federation Council, believes that Ukraine may have had US support for a drones stake in Russia's early warning system for atomic rockets. He claimed that the world was moving closer to the brink of an atomic war due to actions like these.
A news report said that Ukraine had damaged a radar system for Russian early warning systems for atomic missiles with a drone attack, according to former Russian ambassador to NATO Dmitry Rogozin, who claimed that the US might be behind the incident. This radar is vital in controlling Russia's strategic nuclear forces.
A G7 meeting of Finance Ministers took place in Stresa, focusing on providing aid to Ukraine. Italian banks, particularly UniCredit and Intesa Sanpaolo, have significant connections to Russia, making it a challenge to persuade them to sever ties.
Investigators are looking into the actions of the 125th Brigade, accused of having a negligent attitude towards military service during Russia's attacks in Kharkiv region. This brigade's inadequate defense organization may have contributed to the losses endured during these attacks, and as many as 30 commanders and commanders may face severe consequences.
The Ukrainian government didn't comment on Russian troops' reported advances in the Donetsk and Kharkiv regions of Ukraine, though Russian authorities reportedly seized Archangelske village in Donetsk as well as made gains in the Northeast region of Kharkiv, repelling two Ukrainian counterattacks.
German Finance Minister Christian Lindner spoke about the importance of protecting taxpayers' interests as the G7 discussed further financial aid for Ukraine. He said the G7 aimed to secure aid for this year, with additional plans for 2025.
Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine's military intelligence, shared that Ukrainian forces are enhancing their fleet of unmanned ships. These vessels will be able to target coastal areas and small air targets. Budanov foresees unmanned ships eventually replacing traditional warships, particularly in confined or partially enclosed waters like the Black Sea and Mediterranean.
11:17: Mangott voices concerns about Russian territorial expansion in the Baltic Sea
The Russian Department of Defense's proposed law has alarmed defense analysts in the Baltic region. "Moscow Times" reports that the Kremlin may be looking to extend Russian territorial waters in the Baltic Sea. Security specialist Gerhard Mangott expresses his views on the situation.
10:55: Russian Iskander missiles strike Kharkiv
The prosecutor's office in a Kharkiv district has disclosed that Russian troops hit the city with two Iskander missiles during the night. Iskander-M is a missile system that can travel 500 kilometers and carry nuclear warheads. With its flexible flight path, Iskander is difficult to intercept. The missiles are reported to have damaged a school and a residential building.
10:04: Stoltenberg urges allies to reconsider restrictions on weapon use in Russia
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg addressed the use of Western weapons against military targets in Russia during an interview with "The Economist." He believes that it's time for NATO allies to reconsider the limitations on the use of the weapons they have provided to Ukraine, given the ongoing battles near the border in Kharkiv. Stoltenberg emphasized that self-defense is enshrined in the UN Charter and legal and legitimate. "We are helping Ukraine to uphold this right, and that should include the option of targeting Russian targets on their territory," said Stoltenberg.
09:24: Unmanned drones strike Russian radar station in Krasnodar
Ukrainian drones allegedly attacked a significant radar station in the Russian Krasnodar region. The station is part of Russia's early warning system for ballistic missile launches and launches of missiles that carry nuclear weapons, controlling an area up to 6,000 kilometers away. The radar station is believed to be in charge of monitoring an area within a range of 6,000 kilometers.
08:42: ISW warns against ceasefire
Russian President Putin has openly discussed a ceasefire — but one based on territorial gains already accomplished. According to the US think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW), this would be a significant risk for Ukraine. A ceasefire could enable Russia to better prepare its forces for the next offensive operations, which aim to overthrow the regime, demilitarize Ukraine, and seize the country. The Kremlin might also exploit the notion of a frozen front, suggesting that western support for Ukraine will no longer be as crucial or necessary.
08:11: CDU politician Kiesewetter urges suspension of Germany's debt brake for Ukraine's sake
CDU foreign policy expert Roderich Kiesewetter appealed to the German government to declare a state of emergency due to the Ukraine war. According to him, the war could only be won "with debt." Ukraine needs immediate assistance, and it is incomprehensible why the coronavirus pandemic was deemed a state of emergency to finance a €200 billion power and gas price cap but the war does not qualify for a similar response. With the declaration of a state of emergency, the strict requirements of Germany's debt brake — installed in its Basic Law — could be suspended. However, the FDP in the traffic light coalition has so far firmly opposed such a measure.
07:56: Zelensky heralds successes of Ukrainian troops in Kharkiv
The United States has supplied Ukraine with a new military package, while Germany is sending another air defense system. Meanwhile, Zelensky celebrated his army's success in a video.
07:23: Ukrainian General Staff: Russia has suffered 500,000 casualties
Since the start of the full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022, the Ukrainian General Staff estimates that the Russian side has sustained 500,080 casualties. There have also been 1,140 additional casualties in the last 24 hours. Russia is currently applying immense pressure on Ukrainian defenders at various fronts, and this pressure comes at a high cost for Russian lives. Additionally, the Ukrainians registered 15 destroyed Russian tanks, 27 artillery systems, an anti-aircraft system, and two multiple rocket launchers in the last day.
07:07: First group of Ukrainian F-16 pilots completes US training
The initial group of Ukrainian F-16 pilots has finished their training in the United States and is now preparing for further training in Europe. The training of pilots and ground personnel has reportedly taken nearly a year. They are slated to be ready for missions against Russian air forces by the summer. The Ukrainian Air Force is set to receive more than 60 F-16s from Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Belgium. These countries, along with the United States, Great Britain, Romania, France, and Bulgaria, have mobilized personnel, aircraft, and ground equipment to instruct the Ukrainians in flying and maintaining the combat aircraft.
06:33 US Excalibur shells ineffective due to Russian interference:Ukraine has stopped using certain American weapons systems as their accuracy has decreased drastically. A report from the "Washington Post" reveals this issue heavily affects systems that are guided by GPS, specifically Excalibur artillery shells and HIMARS. Excalibur shells' success rate has lowered to less than 10% over time while it reaches its targets. US is also not delivering Excalibur shells now. For HIMARS attacks, it's mandatory to first neutralize the enemy's interference, such as through attacks using smoke munitions.
04:34 Stoltenberg: China's role in Ukraine war is crucial:NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg believes China's support for Russia during the war in Ukraine is crucial. "China claims to have good relations with the West. Notably, it's providing resources to fuel the war in Europe," Stoltenberg said to "Welt am Sonntag." China isn't known to have supplied weapons or ammunition to Russia. But he says there's been an increase in the sale of machine parts, microelectronics, and other technologies that Russia uses to create rockets, tanks, and aircraft against Ukraine.
03:06 Hofreiter: Ukraine should be allowed to use Western weapons against targets on Russian land:Anton Hofreiter, Green foreign policy spokesman, believes Ukraine shouldn't be stopped from using Western weapons to defend against Russian aircraft in Russian airspace. "This is about protecting the Ukrainian population. Why prevent Ukraine from utilizing given weapons to defend against Russian fighter jets in Russian airspace?" says the chairman of the European Affairs Committee in the German Bundestag to Funke media group's newspapers. "International law allows a state to target military objectives on an aggressor's land."
02:01 Ukraine reports Russian air attacks and "partial success" at Kupiansk:Based on a report from the Ukrainian General Staff, Russian forces have attacked the city of Wowtschansk from the air. Eight guided bombs fell on the city. Ukrainian military defended Kupiansk and its surroundings against ten Russian attempts. Florida-sized Russia gained "partial success" near Kupiansk in the Kharkiv region and in the Pokrovsk sector in the Donetsk region.
01:30 Evacuation of children planned in the Kharkiv area:123 children from the northeast of the Kharkiv region will be evacuated, as reported by "Kyiv Independent". They'll initially be taken to the city of Kharkiv and then to the northwestern region of Volhynia. Since the latest Russian offensive, more than 11,000 civilians have been evacuated.
23:23 Zelenskyy: Control over the Charkiv region restored:Ukrainian army regained control over the border area in the eastern part of the Charkiv region, mentioned by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in his evening video address. Zelenskyy had previously visited Charkiv. Russian forces had carried out a ground attack two weeks ago in the border area and captured several Ukrainian villages.
22:22 More than 400 Ukrainian women held captive by Russia:Roughly 403 Ukrainian women are currently in Russian captivity, reports "Ukrinform," citing a report by the Ukrainian coordinating body for treating prisoners of war. Many of these women are illegally detained civilians. Furthermore, there are women reported missing since 2014 with an uncertain fate. Russians have disregarded numerous requests to release these trapped women, according to the source.
22:02 Kuleba: Putin's fear of successful Ukraine peace summit:Russian President Vladimir Putin wants the upcoming peace summit in Switzerland to fail, says Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, reacting to reports of Putin's possible pursuit of peace talks (see entries at 19:55 and 12:22 p.m.). Putin isn't aiming to end the entire war led by Moscow, claims Kuleba. "Putin is desperately trying to prevent the peace summit in Switzerland from failing. He fears its success."
Six NATO countries bordering Russia are planning to construct a "drone wall" to safeguard against provocations, as per Lithuania. The goal of this initiative spanning from Norway to Poland is to safeguard their borders by utilizing drones and other advanced technologies. Lithuanian Interior Minister Agne Bilotaite discussed these plans with her counterparts from Estonia, Latvia, Finland, Norway, and Poland, and revealed that the project extends beyond warding off "provocations by unfriendly countries." It also aims to combat smuggling. Apart from drones for border surveillance, anti-drone systems will also be coupled into the system. Bilotaite heralded the proposal as a "completely new thing," but didn't disclose a timetable for the project. The escalating security concerns owing to Russia's aggression in Ukraine prompted this border fortification initiative.
Elsewhere, in the United States, another round of military aid will be introduced into Ukraine in an attempt to counter Russia's war of aggression. This new support package, worth $275 million (approximately €253 million), includes ammunition for HIMARS multiple rocket launchers and 155mm and 105mm artillery munitions, according to the US State Department. This marks the fifth package of aid approved by President Joe Biden since Congress approved funds for Kiev, which totaled around $61 billion (€56.2 billion) in April. A large portion of the aid from previous packages has already arrived at the front, according to officials. The latest support is expected to be delivered "as quickly as possible" to allow the Ukrainian military to continue defending their land and protecting their citizens. Since the inception of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, the United States has provided Kiev with more than $50 billion in military assistance, as per Pentagon figures.
In Russia, students now face an additional compulsory subject: "Basics of Life Security." This school year, they are learning military fundamentals such as shooting and wound bandaging.
In the ongoing strife between Russia and Ukraine, Vladimir Putin expressed his willingness for negotiations once again. However, he made it clear that discussions should not begin with the return of illegally annexed and occupied territories, but rather with the "reality on the ground." With Russia's open war against Ukraine continuing since early 2022 and occupying about a fifth of Ukraine, Kiev has repeatedly emphasized the necessity of Russian forces' withdrawal before any long-lasting peace can be achieved.
Catch up on previous developments here.
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- Despite the reports of multiple attacks in Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian President, strongly criticizes Russia's actions, calling the bombing of a Home Depot in Kharkiv an example of Russian "insanity."
- In response to the ongoing conflict, Nato has been closely monitoring the situation between Ukraine and Russia, with concerns growing about potential military operations and the possibility of a cyberwar escalation.
- The Governor of Belgorod region, Vyacheslav Gladkov, reported that two Ukrainian drones attacked the city of Shebekino, causing minimal damage to an industrial building.
- The Ukrainian Air Force is strengthening its fleet of unmanned ships, with the goal of eventually replacing traditional warships, particularly in confined waterways like the Black Sea. This could significantly impact the balance of power in the region, especially given Russia's naval presence in the area.
Source: www.ntv.de
